This article applies the theory of planned behaviour (Ajzen 1988, 1991) to analyse the decision of students to attain a more advanced certificate than the one dictated by their school track. The analyses were based on a longitudinal survey of 1,010 Hauptschule students in Germany in years 8 and 10. Consistent with the theory, the results showed that earning a higher certificate in year 10 was predicted by the intention to obtain that certificate, as well as perceived behavioural control, in year 8. Individual and family characteristics not only were associated with attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control, but they also had a direct effect on educational attainment. Specific beliefs discriminated effectively between intenders and non-intenders, while high achieving intenders who did not obtain an intermediate certificate differed from "successful" intenders mainly in terms of specific control beliefs. In all, the study provides evidence for the utility of the theory of planned behaviour as a predictor of educational decisions. However, it also points to the limitations of this approach and draws attention to structural and formal conditions which are not reflected by the individual.